Tiro Boter - Becho forest (6271)
Ethiopia, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Tiro Boter - Becho forest
Central coordinates: Latitude: 8.2710, Longitude: 37.2310
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1650 to 3018
Area of KBA (km2): 937.803
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Tiro Boter–Becho forest lies in Tiro–Afeta and Limu–Kosa Weredas of Jimma Zone, 80 km south-west of Welkite town, which in turn is 150 km from Addis Ababa. It lies along a volcanic mountain ridge, running almost north to south, and rising to a series of small peaks, the highest of which is 3,018 m. The mountains are drained by the Gilgel Gibe to the west, which forms a wide valley supporting the lower parts of the forest, and the main Gibe river to the north and east. The Tiro Boter–Becho forest is a mixed coniferous–broadleaf forest, fairly species-rich, and structurally diverse. Acacia woodland dominates the lowest altitudes, with high montane forest on the slopes and in the valleys up to around 2,500 m. Above this is a mixed coniferous forest, comprising Juniperus procera, Hagenia abyssinica and other small trees, that grades into an open Erica arborea zone around 3,000 m. There are some patches of Arundinaria alpina in wet, sheltered valleys. Aningeria adolfi-friderici are the largest trees and are sought-after for their timber. Although the Tiro Boter–Becho forest covers 85,804 ha of forest and forest land, in 1988 only 15,957 ha was undisturbed forest, the remainder comprising 23,289 ha of disturbed forest and 46,558 ha of plantation and bushland.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas) KBA identified in the process of compiling the CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the East Afromontane Hotspot. Species taxonomy and threat category was based on IUCN Red List 2010-4.
Additional biodiversity: See Box and Table 3 for key species. So far 122 species have been recorded. Macronyx flavicollis is uncommon, being restricted to a few small grassland patches. Notable among the biome-restricted species are Dendropicos abyssinicus, Pseudoalcippe abyssinica, Cryptospiza salvadorii, the little-recorded Poeoptera tuhlmanni,Onychognathus tenuirostris, Cinnyricinclus sharpii and Serinus xanthopygius. Other species of interest include Accipiter rufiventris, Apaloderma narina and four little-recorded species, Emberiza affinis, Schoenicula brevirostris, Coracina pectoralis and Lagonosticta rubricata. In addition, one species of the Sudan–Guinea Savanna biome has been recorded; see Table 3. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Delineation rationale: 2013-07-10 (BL Secretariat): following CEPF East Afromontane ecosystem profiling process, the reported IBA area of 85804 ha has been changed to 94000 ha (as measured in GIS from latest boundary polygon, rounded to nearest 10%).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | forestry | nature conservation and research | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 4 | |
| Forest | 8 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 87 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Since 1984, the Tiro Boter–Becho Integrated Forest Development and Utilization Project has aimed to ensure optimum protection, conservation and utilization of the natural forest based on the principle of sustained yield production for the benefit of local use and the national economy. The project is one of the few well-managed forestry projects in Ethiopia, and offers practical training across the full range of forestry activities. One part of the natural forest has been set aside for total protection, being used only as a reference area for studying the flora and fauna and making comparisons with the areas under forest management. However, the forest has been exploited since 1951, with 5,400–6,400 ha of Juniperus procera already harvested. Current threats to the vegetation come from neighbouring communities, with people grazing livestock in the forest, clearing areas for cultivation and cutting trees for construction timber and fuel (for their own use and to sell). The practice of planting fast-growing exotic trees in the grassland and woodland areas also represents a threat.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Wood & pulp plantations | Small-holder plantations | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Chaffey (1978), Forest Management Planning Division (1989), Friis (1992), Pettersson (1986).